Everyone met back at the meeting place after their search through
the tunnels. Each relayed what they had discovered. They had
agreed to use Nikolas' room as their starting point of their search.
Once they reached Nikolas' room, Laura went over to the bed and knelt beside it. She tried to imagine what her son looked like when he slept in this bed as a little boy. Did he sleep as he enjoyed life and didn't have a care in the world like Lulu did? Did he sleep as if he was dreaming of being on some grand adventure like Lucky? Did he sleep like Stefan did, as if he had carried the world on his shoulders all day and was finally able to let it go at night? Somehow she didn't think he slept like any of them. She pictured him as just a kid who had dreams of a future and lived those dreams at night.
Luke watched Laura for a while, having some idea of what she was feeling. Being in the room that her son had grown up was hard on her. He understood that. He knew how much children had meant to Laura, but he would never know how painful it was to have to let one go. He was never denied access to his children like she was with Nikolas. He never had to wonder what they liked and disliked. What they feared and loved.
Luke walked over to Laura, but stopped before reaching her. This was what she needed to do. Maybe somewhere in this room she could make a little peace with herself for leaving him. And Luke knew that he didn't have the right to intrude. He had intruded on her relationship with Nikolas too many times already, and he refused to do so again. He only regretted that it did take Nikolas to be kidnapped to realize that he was not just a Cassadine. He was also Laura's son. And it was that part of Nikolas that had gotten him kidnapped right now.
Laura finally stood up and faced the others, but stopped as soon as she saw Luke staring at her. She was about to explain what she was feeling, but Luke held up his hand and lipped, "You don't need to explain. I understand." Laura nodded and thanked him before they both headed to the others.
"Well, where do we go from here?" Sean asked.
"We have no idea where Nikolas is hidden in this house so it's probably best if we all split up and search," Sonny said.
"You mean for us to all go our own way?" Tiffany asked.
"You're the one who decided she had to come, so if you're not cut out for it, then you can stay here," Sean replied.
Luke and Laura just stared at each other when Sonny suggested for everyone to split up. Neither one of them had told the others what they had overheard earlier. Luke didn't feel comfortable with the idea of Laura being off on her own in this house, and Laura definitely didn't like the idea of not being with Luke either.
Their stares did not go unnoticed as Tiffany asked, "Is something wrong?"
Luke quickly looked at Tiffany and said, "Nothing's wrong. I'm just not going to let Laura go searching this house without me. If all of you feel the need to split up, then split up and search, but Laura and I are sticking together."
Laura was grateful for Luke's reply, both for the certainty that she will be safe with him and that he didn't reveal what they both knew... her life was over if she were caught. Laura held Luke's hand and felt the tenseness of his grip. He was waiting for his statement to be challenged, but no one had argued. Everyone felt that it would only improve Luke and Laura's relationship to be together as much as possible.
Once everyone agreed to be back in the room by daybreak, they each headed off in their own direction, hoping that when they returned, there would be one extra person among them.
Nikolas woke up from his very short nap. The only time he slept during this whole time was when he was drugged. He got up slowly and stretched his legs a little, feeling the tightness in all of his muscles. He knew he had to get out of this prison he was in, but he didn't have any idea how to do so. The only thing he knew was that when his kidnapper returned to trade more insults, he was finally going to demand some detailed explanations.
Nikolas didn't have to wait long before the man opened the door and came into the room. He was smiling at Nikolas, enjoying the anger in the boy's eyes. "I see you are awake,' the man said.
"You think I can sleep on the floor of this room for very long?" Nikolas asked, impatiently.
"Well, you did have a nice bed when you first came here, but since you were so mean to me, I thought it was a better idea for you to learn a little respect before enjoying the comfort of a bed again."
"Respect for a man who kidnapped me? Where is my grandmother?" Nikolas yelled.
"Who says that your grandmother is available?"
"Tell her to make herself available! I don't believe for one minute that she permitted this treatment of me. It's one thing to kidnap me and bring me to Greece. It's another thing to lock me up in a room without windows or furniture."
"Nikolas, my boy. You must learn the predicament that you are in at the moment. You have no say in how you are to be treated or where you will be staying. The only thing you will have any control over is who lives in your family and who shall die. I know that it will probably be an easy choice for you because there are only three people whose lives will depend on you and you alone. The others are out of your control."
"What do you mean?" Nikolas asked quietly.
"Simply that your family is in your hands. You behave and maybe two of them will be spared. You anger me and none of them will live. It's that simple. But I will let you choose which one will definitely die when the time comes."
The man quickly left the room before Nikolas could ask anything further. Nikolas ran to the door, trying to stop it from shutting completely, but he was too late. He was locked in again and all he could do was wait until this man's words had come reality.
After fully rested, Stefan and Alexis had headed for Nikolas' room. Stefan had a feeling that his son had been there, and hoped was still there. They quickly headed for the room and went inside. Stefan searched one side of the room as Alexis searched the other. Neither knew what they were looking for, but searched anyway. It took about a half hour to search the entire room, and no evidence had been found that Nikolas was ever here. If he was and did leave something behind, it had been removed before he was taken somewhere else.
Stefan sat on Nikolas' bed and placed his head in his hands. His instincts had been wrong. He was angry with himself that Nikolas was even placed in this position. If he had only pushed passed his pride, maybe he could have formed a new relationship with his son. Maybe he could have prevented this if he only had dropped his vendetta against Spencer. Then again, he had no doubt that Spencer had informed Helena of Nikolas' true paternity, and he was determined to make him pay with his life.
Alexis stayed in a corner of the room, watching Stefan deal with his anger. She didn't want to approach him when he was in this mood. It was better to leave him alone to deal with it himself. All she could do was wait and hope that Stefan snapped out of it so they could continue their search.
Helena had been informed of Nikolas' behavior. She wasn't surprised that he had gotten so emotional about his kidnapping. "Just like your father," she said to herself, thinking of how Stefan had always been the weak son, unable to stomach the difficult situations. She was disgusted with the thought and headed for the one room she had avoided for so many years... the son worthy to have her husband's name.
Once she got to the room, she placed the key in the door but noticed that it was unlocked. She quickly walked inside and looked around. ‘Someone's been here recently,' she thought, as she saw that the bed had been used. The rage within her grew at the thought that someone had disobyed her wishes. But she quickly realized that no one here would have had the guts to come into Stavros' room, so there had to be in intruder in the house.
She was about to call security when she decided that a surprise would be much better. She called the only person she trusted and asked him to meet her in the room. Then she sat on Stavros bed, waiting for the intruder to come back. Whoever it was, they would never leave this room again.
Luke and Laura walked around quietly, but quickly, searching every room they passed. Finally the reached a room at the end of the hall. It was isolated from every other room, its door shut as the others were. Luke headed for it as Laura grabbed him and held him back.
"What's wrong, Angel?"
"That's Stavros' room," Laura whispered. She had tried to bury the memories of that room, but just seeing the door had paralyzed her.
Luke took her into his arms and said, "I won't let anything hurt you."
Laura nodded and allowed Luke to lead her into the room. They took at peak inside, seeing that it looked vacant. Luke walked in and Laura followed, trying to search for a light switch. Once they were both fully inside, the door slammed behind them and the lights came on. Before them, Helena sat on the bed.
"Why if it isn't my darling Luke and his cheating wife," she said as an evil grin had formed on her face.
